U.S. patent number 11,149,495 [Application Number 15/543,302] was granted by the patent office on 2021-10-19 for apparatus and method for modifying axial force.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Charles Abernethy Anderson. The grantee listed for this patent is Charles Abernethy Anderson. Invention is credited to Josh Campbell.
United States Patent |
11,149,495 |
Campbell |
October 19, 2021 |
Apparatus and method for modifying axial force
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to tools capable of
amplifying or dampening axial forces produced by downhole
equipment. More specifically, apparatus and methodologies provide a
tool for imparting amplified axial loads (e.g., a hammer sub), or,
in the alternative, for dampening/reducing downhole vibrations or
"noise" (e.g., a suppressor sub).
Inventors: |
Campbell; Josh (Calgary,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Anderson; Charles Abernethy |
Millarville |
N/A |
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
Anderson; Charles Abernethy
(Millarville, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
57003727 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/543,302 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 27, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/CA2015/000187 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
July 13, 2017 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2016/154703 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
October 06, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180010389 A1 |
Jan 11, 2018 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
17/07 (20130101); E21B 1/00 (20130101); E21B
21/08 (20130101); E21B 4/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
1/00 (20060101); E21B 17/07 (20060101); E21B
21/08 (20060101); E21B 4/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;173/200
;175/297,296 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Truong; Thanh K
Assistant Examiner: Howell; Scott A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Holzer Patel Drennan
Claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from at
least one hydraulic fluid-transmitting downhole drilling tool, and
for amplifying changes in the hydraulic fluid pressures of the
received fluids to generate amplified axial forces on the at least
one downhole drilling tool, the apparatus being adapted to permit
the passage of the hydraulic fluid therethrough, comprising: a
tubular housing having a sidewall forming a central housing bore, a
tubular piston, telescopically received within the housing bore,
the piston having a sidewall forming a central piston bore, the
piston bore being fluidically connected to the housing bore via at
least one piston fluid port, at least two first hydraulic fluid
chambers for receiving the hydraulic fluid, each of the at least
two first hydraulic fluid chambers formed between the housing and
piston sidewalls and directly fluidically connected via the piston
bore and the at least one piston fluid port, wherein when the
hydraulic fluid is received within the at least two first hydraulic
fluid chambers, changes in the hydraulic fluid pressures within the
at least two first fluid chambers are cumulative to impart
amplified axial movement of the tubular piston relative to the
tubular housing, and at least one second fluid chamber disposed in
between the at least two first hydraulic fluid chambers, the at
least one second fluid chamber being fluidly sealed from the at
least two first hydraulic fluid chambers.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second fluid
chamber comprises a fixed volume of hydraulic fluid at a fixed
pressure.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second fluid
chamber is formed between the tubular housing and the tubular
piston.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one second fluid
chamber further comprises a plurality of radial fluid ports
disposed through the housing sidewall for venting the fluid from
the second chamber through the housing sidewall.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one second fluid
chamber further comprises an annular membrane encircling the
tubular housing, for sealing the plurality of fluid ports and
preventing the fluid from exiting the tool.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second fluid
chamber is operative to resist opposed axial forces from the at
least two first hydraulic fluid chambers.
Description
FIELD
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to tools capable of modifying
(e.g., amplifying or suppressing) axial forces produced by downhole
tools, and more specifically to tools for modifying the axial
forces generated by downhole tools that impart movement of downhole
equipment.
BACKGROUND
In the oil and gas industry, oil producers access sub-surface
hydrocarbon-bearing formations by drilling long bore holes into the
earth from the surface. Advances in drilling technologies have
enabled the construction of deeper and longer wells. It is well
known that downhole percussion tools can be used to enhance the
rate of penetration in the drilling, to prevent buildup of friction
due to pipe drag, or to increase the range in extended reach
drilling operations.
Many downhole percussive tools, sometimes referred to as hammers or
thrusters, are known to provide a pulsed fluid flow in order to
increase the drilling rate. Pulsed fluid flow can be achieved by
periodically restricting the drilling fluid flow through the tool,
the restriction creating a pressure force which provides a
percussive effect. In many tools, the percussive effect acts
through a conventional shock sub, such that the cyclic fluid
pressure causes the shock sub to extend or retract. However, such
known percussive tools are restricted in the size and frequency of
axial force that they are capable of producing.
There is a need for a downhole percussion tool capable of
amplifying axial force imparted onto downhole equipment with
increased frequency (e.g., multiple "fires" per 25 second
continuously over extended periods of time). It is desirable that
such an amplification tool may be used alone or in combination with
known percussive tools, such as those tools described in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,167,051, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/381,297 or
PCT/CA2014/000701, particularly in extended reach drilling
operations (imparting loads on hundreds of meters of pipe), or
difficult drilling operations (e.g., soft/hard formations). It is
further desirable that, when implemented, such an amplification
tool could reduce the need for downhole drilling jars.
SUMMARY
The present apparatus and methodologies combine mechanical and
hydraulic processes to amplify axial forces generated by known
percussion tools, as may be used in oil and gas drilling
operations. It is an aspect of the present technology to achieve
the amplified axial forces at a high rate of frequency over
extended periods of time. According to embodiments herein, the
present apparatus and methodologies may be utilized to amplify
downhole percussion tools to increase the rate of penetration in
drilling operations, to dislodge equipment that becomes stuck
during drilling, as a hammer drill in extended reach operations,
etc. It is appreciated that the present apparatus and methodologies
may be used alone or in combination with other downhole equipment
in stacked arrangement.
Broadly stated, the present apparatus for amplifying the
transmission of fluid pressure into axial force may be adapted to
permit the passage of fluid therethrough and may comprise: a first
tubular housing having a sidewall forming a central housing bore
capable of receiving the fluid, a second tubular piston,
telescopically received within the housing bore, the piston having
a sidewall forming a central piston bore, the piston bore being
fluidically connected to the housing bore, and at least two first
fluid chambers, each first fluid chamber formed between the housing
and piston sidewalls and fluidically connected to the piston bore
such that changes in fluid pressures within the at least two first
fluid chambers are cumulative and induce axial movement of the
tubular piston relative to the tubular housing.
In one embodiment, the present apparatus may further comprise at
least one second fluid chamber disposed in between the at least two
first fluid chambers operative to receive and resist opposed axial
forces from the at least two first fluid chambers. The at least one
second chamber may comprise a fixed volume of fluid at a fixed
pressure.
In other embodiments, the at least one second chamber may comprise
pressure compensation means comprising:
a plurality of radial fluid ports disposed through the housing
sidewall for venting the fluid from the second fluid chamber
through the housing sidewall, and
an annular membrane encircling the first tubular housing, for
sealing the fluid ports and preventing fluid from exiting the
tool.
Broadly stated, the present methodologies for amplifying the
transmission of fluid pressure into axial forces may comprise:
providing an amplification tool adapted to permit the passage of
pressurized fluid therethrough, the tool having: a first tubular
housing with a sidewall forming a central housing bore capable of
receiving the fluid, a second tubular piston, telescopically
received within the housing bore, the piston having a sidewall
forming a central piston bore, the piston bore being fluidically
connected to the housing bore, and at least two first fluid
chambers, each first fluid chamber connected to the piston bore
such that increases in fluid pressures within the at least two
first fluid chambers accumulate to create sufficient axial forces
to induce movement of the tubular piston relative to the tubular
housing, providing a percussion tool, operatively connected to the
amplification tool, and capable of generating axial force,
utilizing the amplification tool to amplify the axial load
generated by the percussion tool. The method may further comprise
that the second fluid chamber comprise pressure compensation means
for receiving and resisting opposed axial forces from the at least
two first fluid chambers.
Perhaps counterintuitively, in alternative and opposed operation,
the present apparatus and methodologies may be used to magnify the
dampening or suppression of "noise" vibrations produced by downhole
equipment including, for example, pressure pulse frequencies
impacting downhole Logging While Drilling (LWD) or Measurement
While Drilling (MWD) tools. More specifically, without limitation,
the present apparatus and methodologies may be configured to
suppress or absorb larger axial loads or vibrations imparted on
downhole equipment.
The above-mentioned and other features of the present apparatus and
methodology will be best understood by reference to the following
description of the embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional side view of a first embodiment of the
present tool according to embodiments herein;
FIG. 2 is a magnified cross sectional side view of the first
embodiment of the present tool depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the first embodiment of the
tool depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of a second embodiment of the
present tool according to embodiments herein;
FIG. 5 is a magnified cross sectional side view of the second
embodiment of the present tool depicted in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a cross section side view of a third embodiment of the
present tool according to embodiments herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments herein relate to apparatus and methodology of
amplifying or magnifying the transmission of fluid pressure into
axial force for use in various applications where continuous,
high-frequency axial force is desirable. Without limitation, it is
among the aspects of the present apparatus and methodologies to
enable generate amplified movement, agitation or vibration of
downhole drilling equipment. Such amplification may be generated by
the present technology alone, or in combination with other downhole
percussion-generating equipment. As such, the present apparatus and
method may be operably configured to fluid-transmitting downhole
drilling assemblies (e.g., drill string, coil tubing, casing string
etc.) positioned within a borehole. It is understood that in other
aspects the present technology may be also configured for use in
hammer drilling applications, percussion motor applications, etc.
The present apparatus and methodologies is described below with
references to the accompanying FIGS. 1-6.
Having regard to FIGS. 1 and 4, the present apparatus 10 comprises
a tool body formed from at least two telescoping tubular elements
12,14 having inlet and outlet ends 16,18, respectively, each
tubular element forming central bores adapted to permit the passage
of drilling fluid therethrough. Inlet and outlet ends 16,18 can
include interior and exterior threading, as is known in the art,
for operatively connecting the tool 10 with drill string,
conventional percussion tools, or other downhole equipment as
desired. For example, either inlet or outlet end 16,18 may comprise
pin and box threading standard in the industry for operably
connecting tool body 10 with known vibration tools (not shown),
including tools capable of creating tunable pressure pulses. Either
inlet or outlet end 16,18 may comprise standard pin and box
threading for operatively connecting the tool body 10 with a shock
sub 13 (e.g., a conventional shock absorber or vibration dampener).
These connections allow the percussion tool (not shown), the
present tool 10 and a conventional shock sub 13 to act as a single
apparatus for imparting amplified axial loads.
As more clearly depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5, first outer tubular
element 12 (also referred to as the "housing") comprises a
cylindrical wall forming a central bore 22 extending along a
longitudinal axis ("A") between inlet end 16 and outlet end 18
downhole. Central bore 22 is operatively connected to receive
volumes of pressurized fluid from the downhole percussion tool (not
shown) being amplified. First tubular element 12 can be of steel
construction, or any other suitable material, and can be surface
hardened for durability and abrasion resistance.
Second inner tubular element 14 (also referred to herein as the
"piston") comprises a cylindrical wall forming a central bore 24,
fluidically connected with central bore 22. Tubular piston 14 is
configured to be telescopically disposed within outer element 12,
such that the two tubular elements 12,14 coaxially align to each
have a central axis coincident with longitudinal axis "A". Tubular
elements 12,14 are further operably connected to enable reciprocal
extension and compression of the piston 14 during "firing" (e.g.,
opening and closing) of the tool 10. It is contemplated that one or
more additional pistons 14 (not shown) may be telescopically
positioned within the tool 10, further amplifying the loads
imparted thereby. Second tubular element 14 can be of steel
construction, or any other suitable material, and can be surface
hardened for durability and abrasion resistance.
Having regard to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the present tool 10
comprises a first fluid chamber 20 for receiving fluid and
operative to transmit fluid pressures to piston 14, imparting
movement thereof. It is to be understood that first fluid chamber
20 are adapted to receive varying volumes of fluid having varying
fluid pressure. In some embodiments, first fluid chamber 20 may be
positioned at or near inlet end 16, and fluidically connected to
piston bore 24. In one embodiment, first fluid chamber 20 may be
disposed between outer housing and inner piston elements 12,14.
First fluid chamber 20 may comprise a sealed cavity formed between
the inner surface of the housing 12 and the outer surface of the
piston 14. In operation, pressurized fluid may flow into the tool
10 via inlet 16 and enter first fluid chamber 20. Where sufficient
fluid volume and/or hydraulic pressure within first fluid chamber
20 is achieved, forces generated induce axial movement of piston 14
downwardly, firing the tool 10 (e.g., hydraulic fluid pressures
converted to kinetic energy).
More specifically, without limitation, as fluid pressure (P.sub.f)
in fluid chamber 20 increases, the force imposed on surface areas
A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 (up and down arrows, respectively) of chamber
20 cause piston 14 to telescope within housing 12. Downward axial
movement of piston 14 compresses vibration-absorbing elements of
shock tool 13, converting the kinetic energy to stored energy. As
P.sub.f decreases within the tool 10, vibration-absorbing elements
reconfigure to achieve equilibrium, releasing stored energy as
kinetic energy and causing the piston 14 to telescope back upwardly
relative to the housing 12. Both upward and downward movements of
the piston 14 generate axial forces.
It is understood that the present tool 10 is configured to impart
amplified axial loads upwards and downwards with high frequency
(e.g., multiple times per second) over extended periods of time
(e.g., approximately hundreds of hours, or preferably over
approximately 200 hours). It is further understood that
amplification of axial loads achieved by the present tool 10 may be
sufficient to impart movement of weighty downhole equipment (e.g.,
at least approximately 350 meters of drill pipe). Without
limitation, it is estimated that the present tool 10 may amplify
the axial loads generated by known downhole percussion tools by
approximately 65%.
As would be understood, the axial force resulting from the present
tool 10 is limited by the size of first chamber 20 which in turn is
restricted by the diameter and overall size of the tool 10. It is
one aspect of the present apparatus and methodologies to increase
the overall surface area within the at least one first chamber 20
that is acted upon by the pressurized fluid, thereby amplifying the
axial forces attainable by the present tool 10. As such, having
further regard to FIGS. 2 and 5, embodiments of the present tool 10
may be configured to provide at least one additional first fluid
chamber 20a,20b . . . 20i, the at least one additional first fluid
chambers 20a,20b, . . . 20i fluidically connected to each other via
the piston bore 24 and at least one piston fluid port(s) 17 for
cumulatively magnifying (i.e., at least doubling) the surface areas
acted upon by pressurized fluid. Indeed, each additional first
fluid chamber 20,20a, may provide additional surface areas A.sub.1,
A.sub.2, A.sub.3, A.sub.4. It is understood that the overall axial
force generated by the tool 10 is:
P.sub.f=A.sub.1+A.sub.2.+-.A.sub.3.+-.A.sub.4.
In order to prevent opposing forces (e.g., downward forces acting
upon surface area A.sub.2 vs. upward forces acting upon surface
area A.sub.3), and to ensure that P.sub.f changes are cumulative
and magnified, embodiments of the present tool 10 further comprise
at least one second fluid chamber 26. Second fluid chamber 26 may
be a sealed fluid chamber having a predetermined and fixed volume
of fluid at a fixed pressure.
Having regard to FIGS. 2 and 5, according to embodiments herein,
the at least one second fluid chamber 26 may also be disposed in
between the at least two first fluid chambers 20,20a. More
specifically, the second fluid chamber 26 may also be positioned
between inner and outer tubular members 12,14, such that the at
least two first fluid chambers 20,20a are positioned thereabove and
therebelow (e.g., movement of piston 14 due to P.sub.f changes in
first chambers 20,20a produces corresponding P.sub.f changes in
second chamber 26). It is one aspect of the present apparatus and
methodology that the second fluid chamber 26 be configured relative
to the at least two first fluid chambers 20,20a so as to be capable
of receiving and resisting opposed axial forces generated by
increases in P.sub.f(e.g., downward forces imposed on surface
A.sub.2 vs. upward forces imposed on surface A.sub.3) in the at
least two first fluid chambers 20,20a.
In embodiments herein, each second fluid chamber 26 may comprise
pressure compensation means for responding to P.sub.f changes
within the chamber 26. More specifically, second fluid chamber 26
may be fluidically connected to the outside of the tool 10 via a
plurality of radial fluid ports 30 extending through the sidewall
of outer tubular element 12. As the axial movement piston 14
compresses fluid in second fluid chamber 26, P.sub.f increases
within second fluid chamber 26 and the fluid within chamber 26
(having fixed volume and pressure) is vented from the chamber 26
through fluid ports 30. In order to prevent the loss of the vented
fluid, pressure compensation means may further comprise a diaphragm
32, the diaphragm encircling outer tubular member 12 and sealing
fluid ports 30. Diaphragm 32 may be comprised of any
pressure-absorbent material capable of sealably capturing
pressurized fluid venting through the fluid ports 30. It is
understood that diaphragm 32 further prevents contamination of the
pressurized fluid within chamber 26 with fluids and debris outside
the tool 10 (e.g., annular debris in the wellbore).
Embodiments herein further relate to methods of amplifying the
transmission of fluid pressure into axial forces. In embodiments
herein, the method may comprise providing the present tool 10 for
use alone, or in combination with other downhole percussion or
vibration-generating tools, wherein the present tool 10 may be
utilized to amplify the vibrations. For example, without
limitation, the present tool 10 may be utilized in combination with
known percussive tools, such as those tools described in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,167,051, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/381,297 or
PCT/CA2014/000701, particularly in extended reach drilling
operations (imparting loads on hundreds of meters of pipe), or
difficult drilling operations (e.g., soft/hard formations). It is
an aspect of the present method that the tool 10 may be configured
or tuned to provide high-frequency force (e.g., multiple "fires"
per second) continuously or near-continuously for extended periods
of time (e.g., up to hundreds of hours).
Embodiments herein further relate to apparatus and methodology of
suppressing or dampening vibrations or axial forces generated by
downhole equipment for use in various applications where reducing
large and continuous axial forces is desirable. Without limitation,
it is among the aspects of the present apparatus and methodologies
to enable suppression of movement, agitation or vibration of
downhole drilling equipment, such as pressures or "noise" generated
by downhole drilling motors. As such, the present apparatus and
method may be operably configured to fluid-transmitting downhole
drilling assemblies (e.g., drill string, coil tubing, casing string
etc.) positioned within a borehole, although it is understood that
in other aspects the present technology may be also configured for
use with Logging While Drilling (LWD) or Measurement While Drilling
(MWD) tools, thereby improving the signal quality transmitted to
the surface.
Having regard to FIG. 6, inlet and outlet ends 16,18 of the present
tool 10 can include interior and exterior threading, as is known in
the art, for operatively connecting the tool 10 with LWD or MWD
tools (not shown), or other downhole equipment as desired. For
example, either inlet or outlet end 16,18 may comprise pin and box
threading standard in the industry for operably connecting tool
body 10 with known downhole tubing or equipment. Central bores
22,24 are operatively connected to receive pressurized fluid from
the downhole dampening tool (not shown) magnifying the
"noise-reducing" capacity of the dampening tool. As above, tubular
elements 12,14 are configured to be telescopically disposed one
within the other to enable reciprocal extension and compression of
piston 14 within housing 12 during vibration dampening (e.g.,
absorption) of the tool 10.
In operation, vibration of downhole equipment will cause
compression of vibration-absorbing elements in the shock sub 13.
Compression of the dampening elements increases fluid pressure
(P.sub.f) in fluid chambers 20,20a, causing piston 14 to telescope
upwardly within housing 12, said P.sub.f absorbed by
pressure-absorption means of second fluid chamber 26. Such
operation may also serve absorb or reduce the pressure fluctuations
or "noise" generated by drilling motors. It is contemplated that in
such operations, the present tool 10 may configured to be used
alone or in combination with downhole shock tools.
Without limitation, it would be understood by a person skilled in
the art that in operation, the present tool 10 may be utilized to
amplify the axial forces created by downhole percussion tools or,
when configured to operate in reverse, to suppress or dampen the
subsurface vibrations or "noise" created by downhole equipment.
Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the
invention. The terms and expressions used have been used as terms
of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in
the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of
the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being
recognized that the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims that follow.
* * * * *